Billy Messer 2010 Rock Baseball Jack Critchfield Park Jack Critchfield Park, arguably the finest 1998 feature story that he on-campus baseball facility in the country, was “one of Tampa Bay’s is the home of the nationally recognized dominant civic leaders.” Slippery Rock University baseball pro- Dr. Critchfield is a gram. retired president and Grand opening ceremonies for “The Jack” CEO of Florida Progress, were held on April 20, 2002. The event attracted 1,256 Corp., a utility company. fans – which at the time was the second largest crowd to at- Prior to joining Florida tend an NCAA Division II regular-season baseball game. Progress, he served as The Rock put the icing on the cake by sweeping a Penn- president of Rollins College; president of sylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division double- Winter Park (Fla.) Telephone and as a teacher. header from Edinboro. Dr. Critchfield received his bachelor’s degree from The Jack Critchfield Park is named in honor of Dr. Jack Critch- Rock and later earned a master’s degree in psychological field, a 1955 Rock graduate and former Rock baseball counseling and a doctorate in education from the University pitcher. of Pittsburgh. Dr. Critchfield and his wife, Mary, in appreciation for A native of western Pennsylvania, Dr. Critchfield now the opportunity he received to attend college, made a resides in Clearwater, Fla., with his wife and daughter, Austi $500,000 donation to the University in May 2000. That Cecelia. donation initiated the project that culminated in the construction of the state-of-the-art, 1,500-seat, on-campus baseball facility that bears his name. Dr. Critchfield’s ties to baseball go beyond his playing Directions to Critchfield Park days at The Rock, though. He was an integral part of the From Interstate 79, take Exit 105 (Slippery community effort that led to the successful awarding of a Rock). Turn left at the stop sign at the end of the Major League Baseball franchise – the Tampa Bay Devil entrance ramp and follow State Route 108 north Rays – to the Tampa Bay area of Florida in 1996. into downtown Slippery Rock. At the traffic light Dr. Critchfield’s involvement in the formation of the Devil adjacent to The First National Bank, turn right Rays was but one reason the St. Petersburg Times stated in a onto Main Street. Follow Main Street to the sec- ond traffic light, turn left onto Keister Road. Follow Keister Road to the flashing light. Turn left at the flashing light and go onto the SRU campus. At the dead end, turn right. Proceed past the East Lake Parking Lot to Stadium Drive. Turn right onto Stadium Drive. Jack Critchfield Park is ahead of you on the right side of the road, adja- cent to the Aebersold Student Recreation Center. Parking is available in several locations adja- cent to Critchfield Park. Contents and Quick Facts Table of Contents Contents and Quick Facts ...................3 Team Picture & Roster ........................5 Head Coach Jeff Messer ................. 6-8 Coaching Staff.....................................9 25 Questions................................ 10-13 Thumbnail Look at 2010 Team .........14 2010 Player Profiles .................... 14-23 2009 Final Statistics ..........................24 2009 Game Results ...........................25 Stiff Challenges on Spring Trip ........26 Game by Game Results ............... 27-32 Season by Season Records ................32 All-Time Series Records ...................33 All-Time Roster .......................... 34-35 Jack Critchfield Park Hall of Fame Hardballers ..................35 Home of Rock Baseball All-PSAC Performers ................. 36-37 Single Season Records ................ 38-39 Rock Baseball Tradition ....................40 Baseball Information Quick Facts Home Field Advantage .....................41 Home Field ................. Jack Critchfield Park Name ............Slippery Rock University Postseason Results ...................... 42-43 Capacity .................................................1,500 Location ..................Slippery Rock, Pa. Rock-solid Success ...........................43 Surface .............................Natural grass Founded.........................................1889 Behind the Scenes Support ...............44 Enrollment ....................................8,450 SRU Administration/Athletic Staff ...45 Head Coach....................... Jeff Messer President ..............Dr. Robert M. Smith About Slippery Rock University .......46 Year at SRU....................................25th Affiliation ................ NCAA Division II Record .................................. 760-432-4 Conference .................PA State Athletic Office Phone ....................724.738.2813 Nickname .............................. The Rock On The Covers E-mail [email protected] Colors ........................ Green and White The front cover spotlights senior Mascot ........................................ Rocky second baseman Billy Messer, who Assistant Coach .........Bob Mitcheltree earned first-team All-PSAC-Western Office Phone ....................724.738.4963 Athletic Department Division and second-team all-region Director .............................Paul Lueken honors last spring. Pitching Coach ..................Steve Urda Asst. to A.D./Compliance .....Amy Badorf Office Phone ....................724.738.4903 Asst. to A.D/S.W.A.. ........Pearl Shaffer The inside and outside back covers Secretary ................. Betsy Strawbridge spotlight senior pitcher Vince Lloyd Sports Information Department Phone ...........724.738.2021 and senior outfielder-DH Jacob Oswalt, Director ........................Bob McComas Department Fax ...............724.738.4797 each of whom earned second-team Office Phone ....................724.738.2777 Faculty Athletic Rep. ...Dr. Brian Crow All-PSAC-West and honorable mention Cell Phone .......................724.421.5658 Equipment Manager ..........Eric Dittmer all-region honors last spring. E-mail [email protected] Directions to The Rock Assistant Director ........................Jon Holtz To the campus: From I- 79, take Exit Office Phone ............................724.738.4925 105 (Slippery Rock). Turn left at the Credits Cell Phone ...............................585.734.2185 stop sign at the end of the exit ramp E-mail [email protected] The 2009-10 Rock Baseball Media and follow State Route 108 north into Guide is produced by the Slippery Slippery Rock. At the traffic light, turn Graduate Assistant ............Steffany Smith Rock University Sports Information right onto Main Street. Follow Main Office Phone ............................724.738.4830 Office. It was written, designed Street to the SRU campus. E-mail [email protected] and edited by Bob McComas, with editing assistance provided by Jon Secretary .................................Laura Vernon Holtz and Jeff Messer. Office Phone ............................724.738.4137 Photography courtesy of Dave Miller E-mail [email protected] (ADM Photography), Laura Vernon (Laura Vernon Photography) and the Web site:...............www.RockAthletics.com SRU Sports Information Office. Rock Sports Hotline ...............724.738.2962 2 • 2010 Rock Baseball Media Guide 2010 Rock Baseball Roster Front row (from left): Brad Goedeker, Carter Haponski, Benny Barnes, George Hebert, John Murray, Jimmy Meyer, Joby Lapkowicz, Jamison Walck and Matt Howard. Middle row: Brandon Frohnapple, Sean Holliday, Derek DiRuscia, Colin McCoy, Billy Messer, Don Pugliese, Mitchell Monas, Tyler Jewett, Zach Jeney, Vince Lloyd, Bryan Smith and Jason Steen. Back row: Manager Dan Sarnoff, Assistant Coach Bob Mitcheltree, Justin Thomas, Adam Jury, John Thomas, Mike Ritson, Jacob Oswalt, Matt Kosik, Nick Caito, Cory Johnson, Pitching Coach Steve Urda and Head Coach Jeff Messer. No. Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Yr. B/T Hometown / Previous School 1 Matt Howard 5-11 190 OF Jr. R/R Philadelphia, Pa. / Frederick CC 2 Adam Jury 6-1 200 3B/SS Jr. R/R Bigler, Pa. / Clearfield HS 3 Carter Haponski 5-8 165 OF So. R/R Ford City, Pa. / Ford City HS 4 Benny Barnes 5-8 175 UT So. R/R Williamson, N.Y. / Williamson HS 5 Jamison Walck 6-0 210 3B Fr. R/R Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro HS 6 Joby Lapkowicz 6-0 180 P Fr. L/L Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels HS 7 Mitch Monas 6-0 180 OF Jr. L/R Wanesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg HS 8 Billy Messer 6-0 195 2B Sr. L/R Slippery Rock, Pa. / Slippery Rock HS 9 Brandon Frohnapple 6-1 190 INF Jr. R/R Cleveland, Ohio / St. Edwards HS 11 Jacob Oswalt 6-4 220 OF Sr. L/R South Fork, Pa. / Forest Hills HS 12 Jimmy Meyer 5-10 175 OF Fr. R/R Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park HS 13 Colin McCoy 6-0 165 P So. R/R Rayland, Ohio / Buckeye Local HS 15 Brad Goedeker 5-10 190 OF Fr. R/R Monaca, Pa. / Monaca HS 16 Bryan Smith 6-2 230 1B Fr. R/R Franklin, Pa. / Franklin HS 18 Matt Kosik 6-3 190 OF So. R/R McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette HS 19 John Murray 5-10 200 C So. R/R Elkton, Md. / St. Marks HS 20 George Hebert 5-10 175 P Jr. R/R Midlothian, Va. / St. Louis U. 23 Jason Steen 6-2 195 P So. L/L Pittsburgh, P / U. of Buffalo 24 Don Pugliese 6-1 190 P Sr. R/R Pittsburgh, Pa. / West Alleghany 25 Cory Johnson 6-4 245 P So. R/R Sharon, Pa. / Sharon HS 26 Tyler Jewett 6-2 210 C So. R/R Manassas, Va. / Stonewall Jackson HS 27 Sean Holliday 6-2 210 P Sr. L/L Moon Township, Pa. / Moon HS 28 Derek Diruscia 6-0 195 C Jr. L/R Beaver Falls, Pa. / Blackhawk HS 30 Zach Jeney 6-1 195 P Jr. L/L California, Pa. / Louisburg JC 32 Mike Ritson 6-4